Inside The Huskies

Huskies Pushing Hard for Ohio Defensive End

Dominic Kirks has become a high priority for the Washington coaching staff

Roman Tomashoff

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When Washington extended an offer to Villa Angela-St.Joseph High School defensive end Dominic Kirks on March 9, it felt like the chances of landing the talented pass rusher from Ohio were slim. However, Kalen DeBoer's staff did an excellent job in developing a relationship with him and getting him on campus quickly.

Kirks has risen quickly through the rankings in 2023 and is on the verge of receiving his fourth star. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound edge rusher is set to return to Seattle for an official visit beginning on June 16.

Kirks currently holds 19 scholarship offers from schools all over the country, including Nebraska, Kentucky, Iowa and Wisconsin. He has scheduled official visits to Pittsburgh and Kentucky, as well as Washington, which seems to bode well for the Huskies' standing in his recruitment.

On film, Kirks displays impressive talent. He possesses a rare combination of speed, quickness and power that allows him to get to the quarterback with ease on a regular basis.

Kirks also has an impressive bull rush that regularly puts offensive tackles in the ground. As he continues to develop a more complete arsenal of pass-rush moves, he's going to be an every-down player. He has the strength to set the edge against the run consistently and the length to steer ball carriers back into the middle of the defense.

The Huskies seem to be in a good place with Kirks, but need to find a way to earn a commitment from the three-star edge rusher. The coaching staff is heavily emphasizing adding depth to all levels of the defense, which always starts up front.

Earning his commitment also indicates Washington's efforts to expand its recruiting footprint are paying off. After signing four-star Curley Reed out of Louisiana and three-star Elinneus Davis from Minnesota in the class of 2023, DeBoer and Co. are continuing to try and push the Husky program to new heights.

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Roman Tomashoff
ROMAN TOMASHOFF

I've followed the Huskies for my entire life, and to be in a position where I get to cover them full-time is nothing short of an honor. After graduating from Lasell University in 2019, I moved to Seattle to pursue my dream of working in sports media. While writing for the Husky Haul, I also covered local sports for the Everett Daily Herald before the COVID-19 pandemic. After being hired by Realdawg.com in February of 2021, I also transitioned into doing a lot of entertainment writing, as I work on a variety of magazines as a contributing writer for Centennial Media, and have also contributed to Emmy Magazine, as well as Walt Disney Television Studios. 

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